Twilight Empress

by Faith L. Justice Book 1 in the Theodosian Women series.

First published 2017

Amazon

4.0(201)

Galla Placidia, daughter of Theodosius I, is caught in the violent politics of the western empire after its permanent division from the East. The Visigothic sack of Rome in 410 leaves her a captive of Alaric’s people, and her marriage to Ataulf makes her a Gothic queen before death and renewed diplomacy return her to Roman dynastic politics.

Placidia later marries Constantius III and becomes mother of Valentinian III, governing through court alliances as the western empire faces military strongmen, rebellious relatives, Vandals and Attila’s Huns. The novel spans her transformation from vulnerable princess to Augusta and regent, tracing the personal bargains required to preserve her family and a state already losing control of its provinces.

Historical Periods

Sack of Rome by the Visigoths410 CE Roman-Hunnic Wars395–453 CE

Genres

Biographical Fiction Court & Political Fiction Dynastic & Royal Fiction Historical Sagas War Fiction

Historical people

Galla Placidia386–450 Honorius384–423 Alaric Ic. 370–410 Ataulfc. 4th century–415 Constantius III370–421 Valentinian III419–455 Attilac. 5th century–453